Buying a new Tent

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Buying a new tent?

This information is based solely on experience.

When looking for a tent, size should be your first consideration. One-man, two-man or which-ever. Buyer beware, however, since the tent that says 'three-man' or 'two-man' generally means three or two men crammed impossibly close. Once this is established you can consider other things such as, weight, rain-fly, floor, and ventilation.

Weight is important. Especially if your a backpacker, kayaker or canoeist. Larger cabin-type tents generally have sectioned aluminum poles, not to mention a lot more fabric, which makes them heavy. Shock-cord poles are lighter, therefore making the tent lighter. Shock-cord poles also assemble more easily than aluminum sections and pack smaller. Backpackers, kayakers and canoeist tend to favor small one-to-two-man shock-cord pole type tents.

A good rain-fly will keep you, and your gear, dry. The rain-fly should extend from the top of the tent all the way to the bottom of the pole on each corner, with an arch between the corners. Small cap-type rain-fly's will do little to keep you dry. A good tent, lacking a rain-fly can be supplemented comfortably with a large enough tarp tied at the corner's. Even with a good rain-fly anything that touches the walls of the tent will be wet come morning. At least it will be in Arkansas.

The floor of your tent will be foremost on your mind, both, when you lay down at night, and even more when you get up in the morning. If you are unfortunate enough to have slept in a tent with the floor being the same material as the tent itself, then you know what we're talking about. The floor should be a tarp material and should extend at least six inches up the sides of the walls. This will help keep you, and everything else, dry. It will also make your tent last longer.

Ventilation is a big consideration. Most certainly during the summer, though in most places it gets cold at night. Therefore, it is more of a concern to stay warm, rather than cool, unless your sleeping during the day in the summer. At least one zippered window is sufficient. Zipped up during the night to keep it a little warmer, unzipped during the day to keep it a little cooler.

If you happen to be the type of camper that likes to take your vehicle with you to the camp site, (which is sometimes unavoidable) and have a large group of campers, then the cabin-type aluminum sectioned pole tent is for you. Otherwise the shock-cord pole tent is the more versatile, and more practical, solution.

If you crave a little more info, or have some questions, feel free to contact us at webmaster@arkansasoutdoorsman.com